17 foreigners caught for immigration violations<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Immigration officers detained 15 Africans and
\ntwo Indians for permit violations during raids on three different
\nspots in the capital on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Coordinator of Jakarta immigration affairs, Hamsuk S. Wijaya,
\nwho led the five-hour operation which began at 9 a.m., said 13
\nAfricans were netted in Palmerah, West Jakarta, two others in
\nKebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, and the Indian nationals in Tanah
\nAbang, Central Jakarta. Two of the Africans are women.<\/p>\n
\"We'll deport the aliens soon, immediately after the
\nquestioning of them is completed,\" Hamsuk told reporters who were
\ninvited to cover the sweep.<\/p>\n
Supported by dozens of local police officers, they caught the
\npeople in rented houses and small hotels.<\/p>\n
He said the 15 Africans were from Nigeria, Congo, Ghana and
\nSomalia.<\/p>\n
Their alleged offenses include visa overstays, lack of travel
\ndocuments and infractions of permit limitations, Hamsuk said.<\/p>\n
The Africans tried to escape during the raid but the
\nimmigration officers with the help of the police managed to catch
\nthem, he added.<\/p>\n
They are being questioned at immigration offices in the three
\nrespective mayoralties.<\/p>\n
Hamsuk said the raids were carried out based on complaints
\nfrom the public that many foreigners, particularly Africans, were
\ninvolved in illegal activities, such as drug trafficking,
\ncounterfeiting and robbery.<\/p>\n
\"Governor Sutiyoso asked us to take care of the foreigners and
\nconduct the raid,\" he said.<\/p>\n
During a series of raids last month, immigration officers
\nnetted at least 60 foreigners, mostly Africans, for similar
\nreasons.<\/p>\n
When asked about trends in passport applications in line with
\na predicted exodus ahead of the June general election, Hamsuk
\ncharacterized them as \"still normal\" with about 100 passports
\nissued per day.<\/p>\n
\"I don't see anything unusual so far, such as the possible
\nexodus due to the election.\"<\/p>\n
In the days following last May riots, he said, his office
\nissued from 300 to 400 passports daily as people fled the
\ncountry. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/17-foreigners-caught-for-immigration-violations-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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